Let spring begin …

Fri, 2013-03-01 07:16

Hope springs eternal, as the age old saying goes; perhaps a fitting commentary for today, which is the first day of “meteorological spring.”

That’s largely because though scientists say the seasons are shifting due some to opaque algorithm locked inside a computer somewhere (mirthlessly crunching numbers related to barometric pressure, air temperature, dew points, and whatnot) the reality is certainly won’t feel like spring for some time yet in my neck of the woods, as 30 degree days are predicted for the near term.

[There may yet be a big blizzard in store for the Mid Atlantic too; one never can tell. That alone might be a good enough reason to keep a vehicle like Ken Block’s Trax snow cat handy!]

Yet spring is also a time to let loose, to break out of winter’s hibernative state of mind. Indeed, take a look at motocross stuntman extraordinaire Robbie Maddison below as he tears it up at the airplane graveyard in Tucson, AZ.

[And believe you me there’s a trucking tie-in; just keep your eye open for a long nose Peterbilt pulling a flatbed trailer.]

Ah, but of course the real world must always intrude; indeed, transportation is an industry that must roll 24/7, regardless of weather, regardless of season. And as we all know big changes are afoot, not the least in terms of new hours of service (HOS) rulesthat should in all likelihood go live this July.

For more insight into just some of the changes this industry as a whole will experience in the coming months, check out comments made by Bill Shuster (R-PA), chairman of the House of Representative’s transportation and infrastructure committee during the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials(AASHTO) Capitol Hill briefing session this week.

That’s something to chew on at least. And speaking of chewing … let’s enjoy a funny moment with the one and only Swedish chef, courtesy of ESPN, to close out this particular pre-week post: